Bill Cochran is a Roanoke Times outdoors columnist.

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Bill Cochran's Outdoors

Recent columns

• Drum fishing on Virginia’s Coast comes in two colors
• Elk advocate finally gets his day
• Turkeys are plentiful, so why are hunting regulations so tight fisted?
• Anglers say closure of the point of Cape Hatteras is for the birds
• Column archive

Bill's Mailbag

• Putting down a bear cub brings complaint
• Recommendations for Virginia’s Wild Turkey Management Plan
• Mail archive

Bill's Field Reports

• A. Willis Robertson great name for new DGIF headquarters
• Big striper smashes Optimist tournament record
• Field reports archive

Resources

• Trout stocking schedule

The Washington Post has weighed in on the controversy swirling around the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. An article last week titled “Discontent Stalks Va. Wardens” highlighted the plight of state game wardens, reporting that they are understaffed, overworked and underpaid.

“Moral has been hammered by what some describe as a vengeful upper management bent on stifling dissension,” wrote reporter Michelle Boorstein.

The Post covered the tension that has escalated around four top DGIF officials who reportedly charged $12,000 on their state credit cards to help fund a trip to Zimbabwe at a time when the warden force has dwindled because of a reported lack of funds.

Much of this has been covered in other publications, but the Post brought new light to an ATV accident in which a warden was severely injured while on crowd-control duties during the breaching of Embrey Dam on the Rappahannock River. Four other wardens on duty were disciplined -- one was fired—for not insisting that the warden who was injured wear a helmet, the Post reported. The disciplined wardens said they had been told to wear a soft, orange cap instead of a helmet.

The Post article was picked up by the Associated Press, which gave it widespread attention. Additional reports on the DGIF controversy are expected in The Virginian-Pilot prior to the next DGIF board meeting on March 24. The Richmond Times-Dispatch is working on a story, but has been quiet since breaking the account of the DGIF African trip on Christmas Day.

RECORD STRIPER WASN’T A RECORD

When is a commercial fisherman fishing for money and when is he fishing for fun? That is at the heart of a controversy over a 66-pound, 8-ounce striped bass caught by Alvin Wimbrough last week.

The weight of the fish easily tops the current Virginia record of 63 pounds, 8-ounces, but Wimbrough, of Virginia Beach, has been denied record status because he is a commercial fisherman. Rules of the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament prohibit commercial hook-and-line fishermen from participating in the program.

Wimbrough swears he was fishing for fun. He and a group of friends ware aboard Capt. Paul Ewing’s charter boat, Fishing Fever. They were reported to be off Sandbridge.

Claude Bain, the tournament director, was adamant about the rule. “We can’t get into the mind of a commercial fisherman when they go out on a trip,” he said. The rules, he said, were designed to keep a commercial fisherman from catching a big fish then saying he wasn’t fishing for money.

“This was a charter trip,” Wimbrough told the Virginian-Pilot.

WILDLIFE WATCHING

The growing trend in wildlife watching, including bird trails and other activities, is good for people and for wildlife. People enjoy the fascination of watching birds and other wildlife, while wildlife benefits from habitat preservation.

A third benefactor is Audubon Magazine. In the March/April issue, I counted 16-full pages of advertisements on bird trails and other wildlife attractions. Included was a four-page layout about Virginia’s birding trail along with a “Kayaking in Virginia” Sweepstakes. Headquarters for the sweepstakes will be Hotel Roanoke and the kayaking will be done on the New River along the New River Trail State Park.

I recall several years ago when I presented the bird trail concept to members of the Bed & Breakfast Association of Virginia. Some members listened with indifference, failing to grasp the tourism benefits they could reap from the trail. Now the trail could be salvation of many B&Bs that struggle to attract guests.

A VET AT DGIF

The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has announced that it has filled a new position of Wildlife Veterinarian with the hiring of Dr. Jonathan Sleeman. Dr. Sleeman will be responsible for investigating, monitoring and researching diseases and other factors affecting the health and survival of wild animals across the state, the DGIF said in a news release.

In the past, most of the DGIF disease work has been done by a major, cooperative disease center in Georgia.

Dr. Sleeman has lived in Virginia four years where his previous assignment was with the Wildlife Center of Virginia. He is a graduate of the University of Cambridge, England with degrees in zoology and veterinary medicine. He completed a postdoctoral residency program in zoo and wildlife medicine at the University of Tennessee. He spent two years working with the Rwandan National Parks on diseases affecting mountain gorillas and other primates. He then taught zoo and wildlife medicine at Colorado State University before heading to Virginia.

“With diseases such as West Nile virus, chronic wasting disease, hemorrhagic disease, avian botulism and others potentially affecting Virginia’s wildlife, this position will serve a key function in the department’s mission to manage wildlife populations,” said Bob Duncan, DGIF wildlife division director.

FISHING REPORT

Early season is a prime time to catch jumbo-size crappie in Kerr Lake. Often these slab-size fish can be found in coves around stumps and other cover. Some up to 2.4-pounds have been landed recently. Also at Kerr, a recent tournament accounted for an 8.5-pound largemouth, a really big bass for this impoundment.

Here’s a tip for bass fishermen at Smith Mountain Lake: Look for points were birds are working. Bobby Fowler did that and in two days used bucktails to catch bass that weighed 9, 6, 4.2 and 4.2 pounds. We are talking about largemouth bass, not striped bass.

A weekend tournament on Claytor Lake produced a winning catch of eight bass that weighed 21 pounds. All were smallmouths. One New River angler reported catching two muskie, one bearing a transmitter tag.

Wind and cold temperatures have kept most fishermen off Lake Moomaw, but 12-year-old Aaron Gordon of Covington cast a nightcrawler from a dock and caught a 22.5-inch rainbow trout that weighed 4.89 pounds.

Bass fishing has been good at Lake Anna, especially when the water temperature rises, sending fish into the creeks.

Fishing for rock bass and shellcrackers remains red hot in the Nottoway River. Some of the shellcrakers are better than one-pound apiece.

You get the idea that the James River blue catfish fishery is on a roll when Dwayne Snyder of Fin and Skin Shop in Varina tells you he has 1,500 pounds of fresh herring in stock for bait. Numerous cats from 30 to 60 pounds are being landed. The river temperature has been ranging from 32 to the upper 40s, according to Guide Mike Ostrander. He has noted that the bite is much better when the temperatures is rising. When it hits the upper 40s, hold onto your rod, because the action really accelerates.

BIRDING ON THE BRIDGE

Several years ago, Curtis Badger introduced me to birding on the 17.6-mile Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. This is one of Virginia’s finest birding spots where species that include Scoter and sea ducks can be viewed in throngs in late winter.

All you have to do is get permission from bridge-tunnel authorities to stop on the islands of the structure. Badger spells out the joys of doing this in his book titled “Virginia’s Wild Side, 50 Outdoor Adventures from the Mountains to the Ocean.”

Birders came close to losing this spot the other day when bridge-tunnel authorities threatened to kick birders off all but one of the islands for security reasons. Birders protested and authorities said they would study the situation the next 60 days.

Birders want the facility to be safe, but they question just how ending their activities will accomplish that. Aren’t people on the bridge-tunnel with binoculars, cameras and cellphones actually a help in security matters?

And what next if this thing gets out of hand? Will there be a ban on boaters casting for stripers around the islands?

OUTDOOR BRIEFS

>The Winchester City Council approved a motion Tuesday to create an urban archery program designed to reduce the growing deer population in the city.

>When the Virginia State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation established its new “Wildlife Manager of the Year” award the obvious choice for its first recipient was Marvin Gautier of Pembroke. Ten years ago, Gautier began working for the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries as a volunteer and part-time employee. He quickly became a benchmark for the profession.

>Hooked for Life, the organization that combines fishing and faith, enjoyed a successful auction Saturday in Roanoke. Some 100 participants turned out and nearly $3,000 was raised for the organization according to Trevor Ruble, the executive director. More information is available on hookedforlife.org.

>Lake Norman in North Caroline never lived up to its expectations as a fishing destination, even in its early days. Anglers called it “the Dead Sea.” Back in 1994, a national BASS tournament there was won by a measly 23 pounds, 4 ounces. Things are different now, anglers say, as BASS returns for another tournament, March 17-20. A better baitfish population is putting the fat on bass, anglers report.

MEETINGS/EVENTS/SEASONS

Tidewater Fresh & Saltwater Fishing Show, March 11-13, Virginia Beach Pavilion, information from 575-437-7616.

Smith Mountain Striper Club meeting, 7 p.m., March 4, Moneta Community Center.

National Capitol Boat Show, March 10-13, Dulles Expo Center, Chantilly, Va. 804-425-6556.

Wilderness First Aid Class, March 12-13, Blacksburg, 18 hours of hands-on instruction and study that results in a two-year certificate, coast $160, visit http://wfa.net.

The 2005 Virginia Ducks Unlimited State Convention and Banquet, March 18 and 19 at the Kingsmill Marriott in Williamsburg.

Smith Mountain Striper Club meeting, 7 p.m., April 1, Moneta Community Center.

Tidewater Boat Show, April 1-3, Hampton Roads Convention Center, Hampton, Va. 804-425-6556.

Youth day spring gobbler hunt, April 2.

Virginia Mountain Chapter of Ruffed Grouse Society banquet, April 9, Wyndham Roanoke Hotel, tickets $50 for individuals and $70 for individual and guest, society membership included, ticket information from Mike Taylor, 540-977-0087 (B) or 540-890-5133 (H).

Cave Spring Optimist Club Tournament, Aprils 29, 30 and May 1, Smith Mountain Lake.

Spring gobbler season, April 9-May 14.

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s American Outdoor Experience, Bristol Motor Speedway, May 13-15, information from www.americanoutdoorexperience.com.

Wilderness First Aid, May 17-18, Blacksburg, an 18-hour, two-day class that results in a two-year certification, $160, registration/information from http://wfa.net.

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